My how baby food packaging has evolved over the years…sure we still have glass jars with hermetically sealed metal lids as well as smaller plastic containers (like mini Tupperware for babies) but nothing has rocked this segment of the industry more than spouted stand up pouches. They are taking over the store aisles of Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, and even smaller regional markets. The combination of a stand up pouch with a funky oversize spout and cap (so kids cannot choke) works perfectly for so many reasons we’ll get to below. But has anyone wondered how we got here and why? Are Gerber jars a thing of the past?
There are 3 things in my opinion that have been a driving force behind this new wave and generation of baby food packaging.
- Expense
- Expanse
- Environment
Yes, the 3E effect. Glass jars and lids and even baby size plastic containers are considerably more expensive that spouted stand up pouches. Sure they’ll last forever but between the individual cost per container and lid along with the energy it takes to make them, store them, and ship them it won’t be long before they are done away with forever. Further, the amount of space (expanse) these items take up empty or full far surpass the pouches. Finally, spouted stand up pouches are recyclable and landfill friendly, including the spouts and caps. Now, the glass and plastic containers are also recyclable but again the amount of fuel and energy used to make, store, and ship weighs negatively on traditional baby food packaging, environmentally speaking.
Spouted stand up pouches are made from laminated layers of engineered barrier film made specifically for the baby food product being packaged (carrots, beans, cereal, etc). These layers provide the strength for the pouch to stand effectively on a store shelf and keep the contents fresher for longer. Even better, the film is flexible enough that the baby (or Moms and Dads) can squeeze out the contents making lunch and dinner an easier clean up experience. These flexible bags can be printed up to 12 colors and affixed with any number of stock spouts and caps as well as custom made ones. These now become a walking billboard for your product, your company, and your brand.
However, here are some tips we can offer baby food companies regarding finding the right supplier for spouted stand up pouches:
- Domestic (North American) suppliers require huge (35,000 piece) minimum runs and they are much more expensive than overseas suppliers. With this in mind, consider finding a reputable overseas supplier (lower minimum runs and per piece price) who clearly can provide not just samples of spouted stand up pouches but documentation of their quality practices. Chinese companies are very good at making stand up pouches but not all factories have high end sealing equipment to assure that the spouts and caps are sealed to the film properly…the result are leakers that can kill your business and shelf presence. NOTE…this does not mean that Chinese companies cannot successfully make spouted stand up pouches, it means to spend the time finding the right Asian company that stands behind their work, has equipment to test the seal integrity of the spouts, caps, and pouches, and can provide samples they have done for other brands.
- You get what you pay for when dealing with overseas factories. Again, by all means, Chinese companies can make great spouted stand up pouches for baby food, but don’t squeeze every last penny out of them or you’ll lose in the long run. It’s better to pay a little more and know that your product will be protected and that you can ship with confidence.
- Get help…there are many reputable North American companies that don’t just buy and import spouted stand up pouches from China, they live and work there, they understand the culture, the language, and how to get things done. These companies have your best interest in mind and can really save the day when you need it most.
- Finally, many of our clients have done this with great success. We buy the stand up pouches from our overseas plant and we use a US supplier of the spouts and caps. IPN and Menshen are two of the highest quality spout and cap manufacturers in the world and they have US facilities that will seal their spouts and caps to our stand up pouches. This gives our customers the best of both worlds and has proven to be very cost effective as well.
In closing, spouted stand up pouches for baby food packaging continues to grow in popularity. Consider these tips to not just save money but build your business while protecting your brand. As always, trust your packaging professional for guidance and direction.